The trail of conflict

Hestared for a moment at the portrait of a seventeenth century Courtlandt whichhung opposite, then up at the beautiful face of the woman in the painting set like a jewel in the dark pane

The Trail of Conflict

MADE IN THE U S A.

"That is your ultimatum, Glamorgan? My boy for your girl or you scoop up mypossessions and transfuse them into yours?"

Peter Courtlandt tapped the arm of his chair nervously as he regarded the manwho sat opposite in front of the fire The two men were in striking contrast.Courtlandt seemed a component part of the room in which they sat, a roomwhich with its dull, velvety mahogany, its costly Eastern rugs, its rare oldportraits and book-lined walls, proclaimed generations of ancestors who hadbeen born to purple and fine linen He was spare and tall His features mighthave served as the model for the portrait of Nelson in the Metropolitan Museum.His eyes were darkly luminous, the eyes of a dreamer; his white hair curled insoft rings over his head; his hands were long and patrician Glamorgan was built

on the Colossus plan, large head, heavy features into which the elements hadground a dull color, a huge body without the least trace of fat Only his eyeswere small They looked as though they had been forgotten until the lastmoment, as though the designer had then hastily poked holes beneath theWebsterian brows to insert two brilliant green beads He was a handsome man in

a clean-souled, massive way; moreover he looked to be a person who wouldcrash through obstacles and win out by sheer persistence

He flung the remains of his cigar into the fire as he answered Courtlandt Withthe cushion-tipped fingers of his large hands spread upon his knees he bentforward and fixed his interrogator with his emerald gaze

"That statement sounds raw but it's true I've been playing my cards for what youcall a scoop for some time Fifty years ago my mother brought her family fromWales to this country We had come from the coal region Coal was all the olderchildren knew, so we drifted to Pennsylvania Until I was seventeen I pickedcoal Occasionally I saw the stockholders who came to inspect the mines Oneday your father brought you You passed me as though I were a post, but rightthen and there I learned the difference between mere money and money withfamily behind it That day I laid my plans for life I'd make money, Lord, how I'dpile it up; I'd cut out the dissipations of my kind, I'd marry the most refined girlwho'd have me, and I'd have one of my children, at least, marry into a family likeyours My grandchildren should have ancestors who counted Well, I got the girl

She had good Virginia stock behind her Geraldine was born and after five yearsMargaret, and then my wife died I began to pile I denied myself everything butbooks, that my girls could be fitted to fill the position I was determined theyshould have I——"

Peter Courtlandt's clear, high-bred voice interrupted There was a trace ofamusement in his tone:

"Did you never think that your daughters might develop plans of their own? Thatthey might refuse to be disposed of so high-handedly?"

"Margaret may, but Jerry won't Since she was a little thing she's been brought upwith the idea of marrying for social position; she knows that my heart is set on it.Why, I used to visit her at school dressed in my roughest clothes, that thedifference between me and the other fathers would soak in thoroughly Oh well,smile I acknowledge that the idea is an obsession with me; every man has someweak joint; that's mine I'll say for Jerry that she never once flinched fromowning up to me as hers I've seen the color steal to her eyes when I appeared in

my rough clothes, but she'd slip her hand into mine, for all the world as thoughshe were protecting me, cling tight to it, and introduce me to her friends Thegirls and teachers loved her, or she couldn't have got away with it Her friendswere among the best at college Oh, she'll marry to please me Even if she didn'twant to, she'd do it to give Peg a chance; she's crazy about her, but I know her,she won't go back on her old Dad Besides, Courtlandt, I have a firm convictionthat a person can put through any worthy thing on which he is determined Howelse do you account for the seeming miracles men got away with in the WorldWar? The test is, how much do you want it? I've gone on that principle all mylife, and it's worked, I tell you, it's worked!"

He waved away the box of cigars Courtlandt offered and pulled a looking specimen of the weed from his pocket He stuck it between his teethbefore he resumed:

vicious-"After I left the coal-mines I beat it to Texas, got an option on land there andbegan to make my pile in the oil-fields I worked like a slave days and studiednights I didn't mean to give Jerry cause to be ashamed of her Dad when she didland Then I set my lawyer to looking up the affairs of the Courtlandt family Ifound that you had a boy, handsome, upstanding and decent I had him wellwatched, I assure you I wasn't throwing Jerry away on a regular guy even if Iwas stuck on your family I found also that your money was getting scarcer than

hen's teeth I took the mortgage on this house, on every piece of property in yourestate I knew when the boy chucked his law course and went into the army Ihad him watched while he was overseas and I know that he came through thatseething furnace of temptation straight On the day your boy marries my girl andbrings her to this house to live I'll turn your property over to you free and clear.

It is in fine condition and will give you a handsome income It won't besufficient for you and the young people to live as I want to see them, but I'll takecare of that You've known me now for three months You know that I'mabsolutely on the level in my business dealings What say?"

Courtlandt rose impetuously and stood with his back to the fire, one arm resting

on the carved mantel

"Good Lord, man, I'm not the one to say It isn't my life that's being tied up Thisproperty can go to the——" he stopped, and looked about the beautiful room Hestared for a moment at the portrait of a seventeenth century Courtlandt whichhung opposite, then up at the beautiful face of the woman in the painting set like

a jewel in the dark paneling above the mantel Her eyes looked back at him,gravely, searchingly His voice was husky as he added quickly, "I'll talk withSteve to-night and if he——"

Glamorgan nodded approvingly

"I'm glad you named him Stephen It was Stephanus Courtlandt whose estatewas erected into the lordship and manor of Courtlandt by William the third,wasn't it? You see I know your family history backward I never buy a pig in apoke," with rough frankness He rose and stretched to his great height The manwatching him thought of the Russian bear which had roused and shaken himselfwith such tragic results "Why don't you and Steve run in town to-night and havesupper with Jerry and me after the theatre?"

"Thank you; if Steve has no engagement we will."

Glamorgan thrust his hands deep into his pockets and glowered at the man by themantel

"I'll leave you now to deal with him You might mention to Steve the fact that if

he refuses my offer I foreclose within forty-eight hours."

The blood rushed to Courtlandt's face as though it would burst through the thin,ivory skin He touched a bell, his voice was cold with repression as he answered

"I'll talk with Stephen this evening Judson, Mr Glamorgan's coat," to thesmooth-haired, smooth-faced, smooth-footed butler who answered the ring.The big man paused a moment, his little green eyes flames of suspicion

"You'll let me hear from you to-morrow? No shilly-shallying, mind A straight'Yes' or 'No.'"

"A straight 'Yes' or 'No' to-morrow it is, Glamorgan Good-night! Judson, when

Mr Stephen comes in ask him to come to me here."

After his guest had departed Courtlandt snapped off the lights and plunged theroom in darkness save for the soft glow from the blazing logs He sank into awing-chair before the fire and rested his head on his thin hand What a mess hehad made of things He had lost his inheritance, not through extravagance, butbecause he had not been enough of a business man to steer his financial shipclear of reefs during the last years of swiftly shifting values To have theCourtlandt property swept away! It was impossible He didn't care for himselfbut for Steve and Steve's children He was a liar! He did care for himself Itwould break his heart to have this old home, which had been the manor, fall intothe hands of an erstwhile coal-picker The town house was different Thelocation of that had followed the trail of fashion, it had no traditions, but this

——He rose and paced the floor then returned to his old place before the manteland listened There was the sound of whistling in the hall, virile, tuneful, the sortthat brings a smile to the lips of the most sophisticated "The Whistling Lieut.!"Courtlandt remembered Steve had been called in the army He dropped his head

to his extended arm and stared unseeingly down at the flames What would hesay——?

"Holloa, Sir Peter! Fire-worshiping?" a clear voice called buoyantly "You're asdark in here as though you expected an air-raid Let's light up and be cheerio,what say?" The speaker pressed a button and flooded the room with soft light

"Judson said you wanted me Shall I stay now or come back when I'vechanged?"

Courtlandt senior straightened and looked at his son with the appraising eyes of

a stranger He admitted to himself regretfully that the boy looked older than histwenty-seven years He was tall and lean and lithe, not an ounce of superfluousflesh on him He stood with his feet slightly apart, a golf-bag dragging from one

"I—I merely wanted to ask you to give me this evening, Steve I—I—well,there's business to be talked over."

The son looked back at his father A slight frown wrinkled his broad forehead

He started to speak, then lifted the golf-bag and went toward the door

"The evening is yours, Sir Peter."

His father listened till his whistle trailed off into silence in the upper regions Hisdark eyes clouded with regret Steve had adapted his selection to dirge tempo

As father and son smoked and drank their coffee in front of the library fire afterdinner, Peter Courtlandt found it even more difficult to approach the distastefulsubject He talked nervously of politics, labor conditions and the latest play Hisson watched him keenly through narrowed lids He emptied and filled his pipethoughtfully as he waited for a break in his father's flood of words When it came

he dashed in

"What's the business you wanted to talk with me about, Sir Peter? Fire away andlet's get it over Anything wrong?"

The elder man bent forward to knock the ashes from his cigar The gravity ofSteve's "Sir Peter" had moved him curiously It was the name his wife had calledhim, which the boy had adopted when he was too grown-up to say "Daddy."Silent seconds lengthened into minutes as he sat there The quiet of the roomwas subtly portentous There was a hint of unsteadiness in his voice when hefinally spoke

"Sit down, Steve Stop raging up and down the room I want to tell you all aboutit."

The younger man flung the cigarette he had just lighted into the red coals anddropped into a chair He kept his eyes on the fading, flaring lights of the fire ashis father told of his interview with Glamorgan The muscles of his jawtightened, his blue eyes smoldered as he listened

"What sort of a girl would let herself be traded like that?" he demanded when hisfather paused

"That is for you to find out, Steve I started to have Judson turn the Welshmanout of the house after he made his astounding proposition, to tell him to go to thedevil—then I thought of you That I had no right to fling away your inheritancewithout giving you a voice in the matter The Courtlandts have held some of theproperty since the first of the family came from Holland in the seven——"

"Oh, I know all about those old boys; it is what their descendant is up againstthat's worrying me Have you tried Uncle Nick?"

The slow color tinged Peter Courtlandt's face

"Yes I've appealed to Nicholas Fairfax twice But you know as well as I that hehas never forgiven your mother and me for not letting him have you six monthsout of every year He contended that as you, the only son of his sister, were to behis heir, he should have an equal share in bringing you up Your mother and I

"But I spent every summer there until I went overseas—and, oh boy, how Iworked While my pals were vacationing I was ranching, and ranching underOld Nick is no vacation I'm as capable of running the Double O now as Ranlett

is Lord, the nights I've come in so stiff that I'd fall on the bed with my boots on.I'd got to shoot and rope, ride and round-up, drive a tractor, know the difference

in the quality of the wheat-seed and the grades of cattle Nick wasn't contentedwith my doing things as well as his outfit, I'd got to go them one better But Iloved the life and I'll confess that I love Old Nick in spite of his fool ideas."

"I'll try him once more, Steve—but——"

"I'll be darned if you will Isn't there some other way we can raise money until I

——"

"My boy, what can you do? What can you earn at present? You finished your lawcourse after you came out of the army, but it will be several years, as times arenow, before you can more than support yourself."

"You don't think I'd touch a penny of the old coal-picker's money even if Imarried the daughter, do you?" interrupted Steve furiously "I'd break stones inthe road first Look here, be honest now, what would you do if we lost thisplace?"

"Blow my brains out," with passionate impulsiveness; then as he saw his son'sface whiten and his jaw set, he realized the effect of his words "No, no, Steve,

of course I didn't mean that The Courtlandts have never been quitters I swear Iwouldn't break the record Forget that sob-stuff You and I would go somewheretogether and I—perhaps I'll keep younger if I have less leisure."

"When are you to give Glamorgan his answer?" Steve seemed the elder of thetwo now, seemed to have taken the reins into his hands

"To-morrow."

"To-morrow! Before the girl sees me? Before she has been given a chance todecide whether the encumbrance which goes with the name and social position isworth her thirty pieces of silver?"

"Try not to be bitter, Steve Remember that when a big man has an obsession it's

in proportion to his bigness, and you'll have to admit that Glamorgan's a giant in

his world You have a chance to see the girl before to-morrow Her fathersuggested that we run in for supper with them to-night after the theatre I have afeeling that the daughter is willing to sacrifice herself to make the great dream ofher father's life come true, just as you are willing to sacrifice yourself for me—

no, don't deny it,"—as his son impetuously opened his lips "I haven't lived withyou for twenty-seven years without knowing some of your mental processes, myboy If it were only myself I'd tell Glamorgan to go to the devil, but the propertywill be yours after me and your children——"

Steve interrupted with a short laugh

"My children! It's going some to make a mess of my life for prospectivechildren Take it from me, they'll keep on playing with the angels for some timeyet."

"Then don't make a mess of your life Is—is there any other girl? Are you inlove, Steve?"

His son thrust his hands hard into the pockets of his dinner coat

"I've never been swept off my feet at the sight of a girl's face, if you mean thataccording-to-fiction stuff Before I went across I thought Felice Peyton——"

"Felice! But she married Phil Denbigh while you were away and now——" Hestopped in perturbed realization of what had happened

"And now they've separated and Felice is cynical and hard I know that I neverreally approved of her in my heart, her ideas, her ideals—oh well, she hasn't any;she wouldn't recognize an ideal if it tapped her on the shoulder Her plan of lifewasn't mine, but somehow I was eternally tagging after her Moth and candlestuff, I suppose."

As the older man's eyes, turbulent with affection and anxiety met his, heexclaimed with a sporting attempt at a laugh:

"I'll bet a hat, sir, that when the lady sees you nothing short of being the Mrs.Courtlandt will satisfy her soaring ambition She won't stand for being merelyMrs Stephen By the way, what's the prospect's name?"

"Geraldine Her father calls her Jerry." Courtlandt senior laughed for the firsttime that evening "That's a great idea of yours, Steve I hadn't thought ofoffering myself Perhaps as she only wants the name and position she'd take meand let you off Your mother would understand," with a tender smile at thewoman over the mantel Her lovely eyes seemed to answer his For an instant alook of unutterable yearning saddened the man's eyes—then he straightened andlooked at his son

The telephone in the luxurious living-room of their suite rang sharply as DanielGlamorgan and his daughter entered The girl looked at the instrument as thoughshe suspected a concealed bomb in its mysterious depths, then appealingly at herfather He took down the receiver

"Yes All right Send them up." He replaced it with a click His grim mouthsoftened into a self-congratulatory smile "Courtlandt and his son are down-stairs," he announced "Did you order supper, Jerry?"

"Yes, Dad The table is laid in the breakfast-room Leon will serve it when youring I'll—I'll go to my room and leave my wrap."

His green eyes dilated with pride as he regarded her

"You look like a princess to-night, my girl."

"I feel like a princess They're usually disposed of to a title or some little thinglike that, aren't they?" she asked with a laugh which held a sob of terror

"Look here, Jerry You're not losing your nerve? You're not going back on me,are you?"

She met his eyes squarely

"I am not, Dad The fewer ancestors one has behind one the better ancestor onemust make of oneself When I make a promise I make it to keep I promised youthat if Stephen Courtlandt asked me to marry him I'd say 'Yes.'"

Glamorgan's eyes glistened with satisfaction

"You have the right idea, Jerry Here they are now," as the bell rang

"You meet them I'll take off my wrap—I'll——" In sudden panic the girl enteredher room and closed the door behind her She leaned against it Her heart beatlike mad In the process of making the dream of her father's life come true wasshe wrecking her own life? But he had been such a wonderful father—and—to

be honest with herself, the romance and tradition and social standing of theCourtlandt name made an alluring appeal to her She had envied friends at school

and college for their careless references to their grandfathers; her earliestrecollection was of a room full of hot, grimy miners in a little home near thecoal-fields To marry into the Courtlandt family in America would becommensurate with marrying into a dukedom in England She breathed a ferventprayer of thanksgiving that her father's ambition hadn't urged him in thatdirection, also that character had counted with him before social position when

he selected his prospective son-in-law

Her shimmering wrap dropped to the floor as she crossed to her dressing-tableand gravely appraised her reflection in the mirror Was the girl staring so intentlyback at her fitted to preside over the Courtlandt Manor? She tested every detail

of her appearance Her orchid evening gown set off her arms and the curves ofher white shoulders to perfection Her hair was of glistening brown, brown shotthrough with red and gold where its soft waves caught the light Her eyes werebrown, large and dark and velvety, like deep pools reflecting a myriad tiny goldstars now when she was deeply moved and excited Her mouth seemedfashioned for laughter The lips were vivid and exquisitely curved, and whenthey smiled a deep dimple dented one cheek Her ringless hands were slenderand beautifully formed

glass girl She lingered before the mirror, aimlessly moving the gold andenameled appointments on the dressing-table She dreaded to enter the nextroom Her life might be changed for all time, doubtless would be, for she wouldmarry Stephen Courtlandt if he wanted to save his estate enough to take her onher own conditions She flushed then whitened Perhaps he wouldn't want herafter all Well, that would soon be settled Better to have the awkward meetingover as soon as possible She picked up a large feather fan that was a shadedeeper than her gown As she touched it she felt armed for any contingency, andnot without reason, for a fan in the hands of a beautiful woman is as effective as

"Dad says that you have Mother to thank for your hands," she told the looking-a machine-gun directed by an expert rifleman Jerry swept her vis-à-vis aprofound courtesy

"I'll say you'll do, Mrs Stephen Courtlandt," she encouraged with gayinelegance The laugh still lingered on her lips and lurked in her eyes as sheentered the living-room

The three men who had been looking into the fire turned The girl's heart wentout to the elder Courtlandt in a rush of sympathy His head was so high, his face

so white, his eyes so full of hurt pride The younger man's face was quite as

white, his head quite as high, but there was an aggressive set to lips and jaw, amixture of amazement and antagonism in his eyes, then something else flamedthere which she couldn't diagnose as easily.

"He looks stunned What did he expect, the pig-faced lady?" the girl thoughtcontemptuously even as she advanced with extended hand and smiled up at theelder Courtlandt

"Mr Courtlandt, you seem like an old friend, my father has spoken of you sooften," she welcomed in her charming, well-bred voice which had a curiouslystimulating lilt in it

The color rushed back to Peter Courtlandt's face, the expression in his eyeschanged to one of relief and honest admiration as he bent over her hand

"I realize now how much I have lost in not accepting your father's invitation tocall before Will you permit me to present my son, Stephen?"

Jerry crushed down an hysterical desire to laugh It was so ridiculous, the casual,pleased-to-meet-you attitude of the three persons whom her father was moving

at his will about the checker-board of life She murmured something in whichthe words "a pleasure" were alone audible Steve acknowledged them stiffly Hereyes met his with their faint scornful smile which she felt masked so much Theyheld hers for a second before she turned to her father

"Shall we go out to supper?" With engaging camaraderie she slipped her handunder Peter Courtlandt's arm The expression of his eyes when they had first methers had won her tender heart "We'll let the younger set follow us," she laughed

He shook his head

"I defy Steve to feel as young as I feel now," he asserted with a gallantpromptness which delighted her

At supper she devoted herself to him He laughed and jested with her and but forhis white hair looked almost as young as his son Steve, angered by herpersistent avoidance of himself, broke into their conversation with a banalitywhich caused his father to look at him in amazed incredulity

"Are you enjoying New York, Miss Glamorgan?"

Jerry regarded him for a moment from under long lashes before, with a smilewhich she was sure made him want to shake her, she answered:

be ignored

"Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it! It's so big, so beautiful and—and—and so faulty," her pose ofindifference had fallen from her like a discarded veil; she was all eagerenthusiasm "I—I like to be where there are many people I would starve forcompanionship, not food, in the wilderness." Steve raised his brows and smiledunsmilingly

"Then you believe in love?"

The color burned over her face to her scornful eyes "He is willing to marry formoney yet he dares sneer at me about love," she thought angrily, even as shelooked up and deliberately studied him She laughed a gay little, mocking laugh

"Believe in love? Of course I believe in love; don't you? But what an absurdquestion to ask As though you would champion the tender passion." She saw hiseyes darken and his jaw set before she turned to his father She was contrite, alittle frightened What had possessed her to antagonize him like that? A poorway to begin a partnership which she had hoped would develop into a realfriendship

"Jerry, take Steve into the living-room and give us some music Mr Courtlandtand I will smoke here," commanded Glamorgan, as his servant, who fairlyexuded efficiency, passed cigars and cigarettes

"Perhaps—perhaps he would prefer to stay here and smoke," the girl suggestedhurriedly, for the first time losing her poise She caught a glint of challenge inStephen's eyes and rose Her color was high, her breath a bit uneven as shesmiled at him with bewildering charm "After all, why should I makesuggestions? You are quite old enough to decide what you want to do yourself,aren't you?"

"Yes Quite old enough and quite ready to decide for myself," he answered as hestood aside for her to precede him into the living-room "Do you play or sing?"

he asked as he followed her to the piano The instrument looked as though itwere loved and used It was her turn to be a trifle scornful

"I play and sing Does it seem incredible that I should?" She seated herself and

"Please." He leaned his arms on the piano and looked down at her, but sherealized that his thoughts were not following his eyes "I am not in the leastmusical, but we had a chap in our company overseas who could make the mostshell-shocked instrument give out what seemed to us in the midst of thatthundering inferno, heavenly music Sometimes now a wave of longing for thesound of a piano sweeps over me, played by someone who loves music as thatboy loved it Do you know—Schumann's 'Papillions'? That was one of hisfavorites."

For answer she played the first bar of the exquisite thing Once she glanced up.The eyes of the man leaning on the piano, not blue now, but dark with memories,were an ocean removed from her It was a minute after the last note was struckbefore they came back to her face He drew a long breath

"Thank you," he said simply, but his tone was better than a paean of praise Thenthe softness left his eyes There was aggressiveness and a hint of irony in hisvoice as he said stiffly:

"My—my father has given me to understand that you will do me the honor tomarry me."

A passion of anger shook the girl She valiantly forced back the tears whichthreatened, rose and faced him defiantly Her slender fingers smoothed out thelong plumes of her fan There should be no subterfuge now, she determined, nocause for recrimination later

"Your father, doubtless, has told you also that my father is willing to buy yourname and social position for me with a portion of his fortune A sort of fifty-fiftyarrangement, isn't it?" she added flippantly, with the faintest flicker of herbronze-tipped lashes Courtlandt shrugged

"If you wish to put it so crudely."

She took a step back and clenched her hands behind her Her beautiful eyes werebrilliant with scorn, her heart pounded It seemed as though it must visibly shakeher slender body as she answered:

"Why not? If we speak the truth now it may save complications later You knowthat my father wants me to marry you and—and why I frankly confess that Isympathize with his ambitions I want the best of life in my associations Your

a lack of family background can be called a difficulty—and it appears that withour help they can accommodate one another I'd do anything for Dad—he hasdone so much for me." She set her teeth sharply in her under lip to steady it

"Then—then you are not afraid to marry without love?" His eyes wereinscrutable

"Without love? For the man I marry? No, not as long as I have no love for anyother I might love a man when I married him, and then—love comes unbidden,oftentimes unwanted and pouf!—it goes the way it came, and no one can stop it.You know that yourself."

Courtlandt's eyes were black with anger, his knuckles white He was rough,direct, relentless as he answered:

"You are indeed determined to make this a business affair But understand nowthat I won't touch one cent of your cursed money Whatever arrangement yourfather wants to make with you and my father is his affair and yours, but you are

to leave me out of it absolutely That's my condition Do you get it?"

"Yes, I get it." She colored richly, angrily, then paled Even her lips went white

"There is one thing more I—we—this marriage is really a bargain—money forsocial position Let it be only that Need there be anything else? You mustunderstand me—you must," in passionate appeal She laid her hand on his arm

He looked down at her with disconcerting steadiness His face was stern

"Yes, I understand You mean a marriage stripped to its skeleton of legal terms

No mutual responsibilities, no mutual sacrifices, no—no love That is for you to

Her brown eyes were brilliant with unshed tears as she held out an impulsivehand

"Thank you You make the arrangements seem bleak and sordid, but you havegiven me back my self-respect Now I feel that it is an honorable bargainbetween us two You are to be perfectly free to come and go as you like, and Ishall be free, too—but there is one thing I promise you, I—I shall never harm thename I take."

He looked down at the hand he held for an instant then released it

"I knew that when you came into the room to-night Will you marry me soon?"

"Whenever you like Will you—say good-night to your father for me? I——"With a valiant effort to steady her lips, she smiled faintly, opened the door of herroom and closed it quickly behind her

Peter Courtlandt was the first to break the silence as father and son motoredhome He made an effort to speak lightly

"Well, my boy, your close-up was wrong Geraldine Glamorgan has neitherprominent teeth, nor little eyes, nor a kittenish manner; in fact, I don't knowwhen I have seen so beautiful a girl so singularly free from the barnacles ofvanity and self-consciousness."

"Kittenish!" his son repeated curtly "She's far from kittenish She's an iceberg,and what's more she has the business instinct developed to the nth degree.Believe me, she's a born trader."

Geraldine Courtlandt slowed down her car to enter the river road The sun wassetting in a blaze of crimson glory, a few belated birds winged swiftly into thewest Lights on the opposite shore flickered for a moment as they flashed intobeing, then shone with steady brilliancy Lights appeared on the few boatsswinging at anchor in the quiet water Lights in house windows beaconed asteady welcome to home-comers What individuality there was in lights the girlthought Those across the river seemed entirely municipal and commercial, those

on the boats carried a silent warning, those in the windows seemed warmlyhuman

The turmoil in Jerry's heart subsided She had driven miles that afternoonthrough the cold, exhilarating rush of December air, trying to forget Steve's tonewhen he had refused her offer to drive him to town that morning Had she beenmarried only a month? It seemed as though centuries had passed since she andSteve had stood before the altar with their few witnesses and exchangedmarriage vows She shivered If she had realized how irrevocable they were,their solemn admonition, would she have had the courage to marry to please herfather, she wondered

"And forsaking all others keep thee only unto him as long as ye both shall live?"The question had echoed in every sound at the wedding breakfast in her father'sapartment; she had read it deep in Peggy's eyes as they had met hers from acrossthe room; it had kept time to the revolution of the wheels as she and Steve hadmotored out to the Manor in the late afternoon Her lips twisted in a bitter littlesmile as she remembered Sir Peter's tactful suppression of surprise when theyhad told him that there would be no wedding journey She and Steve had decidedthat under the circumstances such a function would be nothing short of farcical,besides he would not ask for leave from the office Sir Peter had quite suddenlydecided to go on a hunting trip

The girl's brows wrinkled in a troubled frown She knew now that she had done agrave injustice to Steve, to herself, when she had consented to her father'sproposition Well, the deed was done, her only course was to turn her mistakeinto a stepping-stone toward ultimate good That was the one way to treatmistakes remedially, she had learned in her twenty-three years Repining proved

"Every engaged couple ought to have the marriage service read aloud to them atleast once a week That would give them pause," she murmured with ferventconviction She ground on her brake just in time to avoid running down a "ROAD CLOSED DETOUR" sign The black letters on the white board danced weirdlybefore her eyes for a moment She must cure herself of the reprehensible habit ofdriving with her mind miles away She turned into the side road and droveslowly Detours were notoriously rough even if they sometimes offeredadventure, she thought whimsically

The upper windows of the Manor reflected the setting sun through swaying, barebranches They shone like molten mirrors as Jerry turned into the tree-linedavenue which led to the house At the foot of the garden slope she caught theshimmer of the river Already she loved the place The great house had "home"writ large all over it It bulged, it loomed, it rambled in unexpected places asthough it had grown with the family And yet, in spite of the additions, itremained a choice example of early architecture It was as though a beneficentfairy, versed in the arts, had presided over the alterations

As the girl entered the great hall, where logs blazed in the mammoth fireplace,she had the sense of being enfolded in warm, tender arms If Steve would not be

so frigidly courteous she could be quite happy, she thought resentfully Atbreakfast each morning during these interminable weeks he had politely askedher preference for the evening Should they motor to town for the theatre, dance,what should they do? And she, dreading to bore him more than he was alreadybored, and hating to face the curious eyes of his world which had been set agog

to take her coat:

"Tell Judson to serve tea in the library, Hilda I—I'm cold."

She was half-way to the fireplace in the long room before she discovered that thewing-chair in front of it was occupied, occupied by a queer, elfish type of manwho regarded her with a poorly suppressed snort of disdain as she paused insurprise The skin stretched over his high cheek-bones till it shone likemellowing, yellowing ivory His colorless eyes glittered as with fever, hisforehead reared to where his coarse white hair brandished a sort of kewpie-curl

A black cape, of wool so soft that it looked like velvet, lay across his thin,stooped shoulders From under its folds his hands protruded, clasped on the top

of a stout ebony stick They were gnarled and distorted with rheumatism Hisvoice, true to type, was high and slightly cracked as he spoke to the girl after aninstant of peeved scrutiny

"So—you're the new Mrs Courtlandt, the lady of the Manor, are you? You're thegirl who has been traded in to save the family fortune?"

The angry color flamed to Jerry's hair but she stood her ground She evenmanaged to bestow a patronizing frown upon him

"Now I know who you are No one but 'Old Nick' would be so rude You seeyour reputation has preceded you." She sank into the chair opposite him andwith elbow on its arm, chin on her hand, regarded him curiously She made abrilliant bit of color in the dark-toned room The light from the fire fell on herrose-color sports suit, brought out the sheen of the velvet tam of the same shade,drooped picturesquely over one ear, flickered fantastically on her white throat,set the diamonds in the pin which fastened the dainty frills of her blouse agleamwith rainbows and played mad pranks with the circlet of jewels on the thirdfinger of her left hand

How ill and fragile he looked, the girl thought, pathetically fragile She had apassion of sympathy for the old She would ignore his rudeness She leanedforward and smiled at him with gay friendliness

"Now that I have guessed who you are it's your turn Tell me how you got here.Did a magician wave his wand, and presto, an enchanted carpet, or did you

arrive via air-route? I am sorry that there was no one at the Manor to welcomeyou I was detained by one of those silly detours Sir Peter has been away butreturns to-night, and Steve—did Steve know that you were coming? Did—did hewrite you about—about me?" the last word was added in an undignified whisper.

"Steve! Do they ever let Steve tell me anything?"

"Now I've done it, he's off!" Jerry thought with an hysterical desire to laugh, hewas so like an old war-horse scenting battle

"No The first I knew of you was when Peter Courtlandt wrote that a marriagehad been arranged between the daughter of Glamorgan, the oil-king, and Steve.Arranged! Stuff and nonsense! What poor fool arranged it, I'd like to know?Hasn't Peter Courtlandt seen enough of life to know that when a man who hasnothing marries a girl with a large fortune he's ruined? If he has any strength ofcharacter it turns to gall, if he's a weak party, he gets weaker—it's hell—for aproud man Why didn't they give me a chance to save the family fortune? I'dhave done it if Steve had asked me, but I turned his father down—I wouldn'tgive a penny to save him Why—why that boy ought to have married someonewho'd count, not a once-removed coal-picker."

Furious as she was at his insult, Jerry kept her temper It was so patheticallyevident that he was old and disappointed and alarmingly ill However, there was

a hint of Glamorgan's determination in her eyes as she answered coolly:

"You may say what you like about me, but I can't let you disparage my father He

is the biggest thing in my life After all, why should you roar at me? Steve and Iare not the first victims sacrificed on the altar of pride of family and possessions,are we? Sentiment is quite out of fashion What passes for it is but a wansurvival of the age of romance and chivalry Marriage in that strata of society towhich I have been lately elevated is like the Paul Jones at a dance, when thewhistle blows change partners—in the same set, if one should happen to go out

of it, pandemonium, quickly followed by oblivion."

If he was conscious of the sting of sarcasm in her words he ignored it His voicewas barbed with thorns of irritation as he affirmed:

"Then it is as I suspected; you're not in love with Steve So love is out of fashion,

is it? To be scornful of love is the prerogative of youth; when we get old wetreasure it Well, I warn you now, young woman, that my nephew shan't live theloveless life I've lived I was born rich Had I been poor and married, had my

I shouldn't be the wreck of a man I am now."

"What a pre-nineteenth amendment sentiment," the girl dared mischievously Heglowered at her from under his bushy brows

"You can't switch me off my subject with your flippancy I repeat, Steve shallhave love I'll get it for him—I'll——" He rose and brandished his stick at thegirl He fell back and leaned his head weakly against the chair Jerry leaned overhim and smoothed back his hair tenderly He looked up at her with fever-brighteyes and gasped breathlessly:

"I haven't gone—yet I shan't go till—I've thought of some way to—to yankSteve out of this—this damnable Sam Jones ring you talk about Give me sometea Quick! Give it to me—strong My fool doctor won't let me have anythingelse What's Steve doing? Living on your income?" he asked as Judson, afterfussing among the tea-things, at a low word from the girl, left the room

Jerry's cheeks flushed, tiny sparks lighted her eyes as she countered crisply:

"Don't you know your nephew better than to ask that question? He is in alawyer's office working for the munificent sum of fifteen per." Fairfax chokedover his tea

"D'you mean to tell me that a son-in-law of Glamorgan the oil-king is an officeboy? Between you all you've made a mess of it, haven't you? What does yourfather say to that?"

"He's—he's furious," Jerry answered, as she studied the infinitesimal grounds inher teacup She gave the tea-cart a little push which removed it from betweenthem She rose, hesitated, then slipped to her knees before the old man Shelooked up at him speculatively for a moment before she commenced to trace anintricate pattern on his stout stick with a pink-tipped finger Her voice was lowand a trifle unsteady as she pleaded:

"Uncle Nick, be friends with me, will you?" A non-committal grunt was her onlyanswer "Steve won't talk to me He won't listen to reason Having made his bigsacrifice for the family fortunes by marrying me he is holding his head so highthat he'll step into a horrible shell-hole if he doesn't watch out Dad is furiousthat he won't live and spend money as befits a Courtlandt, that is, as he thinks aCourtlandt should live and spend, and with that fine illogic, so characteristic of

He just commutes and commutes in those miserable trains Commuting corruptsgood manners; he's a—a bear He and I are beginning all wrong, Uncle Nick."She met the stern old eyes above her before she dropped her head to the arm ofhis chair "Steve hates the sight of me and I——"

Fairfax laid his stick across her shoulders with a suddenness and strength, which,made her jump

"What did you expect? Didn't I tell you that when a poor man marries a fortunehis pride turns to gall? Can a red-blooded man really love a girl who wouldmarry for position? You're fast getting to hate him, I suppose?" he demanded in atone which brought her to her feet and iced her voice and eyes

"You wouldn't expect me to be crazy about him, would you? He is cold anddisagreeable and is evidently laboring under the delusion that the world wascreated to revolve around Stephen Courtlandt." A contemptuous snort fired herwith the determination to hurt someone or something "You may take it from methat if I had the chance to choose again between disappointing Dad or marryingyour precious nephew I'd—I'd disappoint Dad." She was breathless buttriumphant as she flung the last words at him He glared at her

"So-o, you're a quitter, are you?"

Jerry's face was white, her eyes smoldering coals of wrath Her voice was lowwith repressed fury as she flung back his taunt

"I'm not a quitter By why couldn't Dad have selected some other aristocrat for ason-in-law? From what I have observed there are plenty of them who needmoney Believe me, I'm tired of living in this cold storage atmosphere I waswilling to play fair, willing to keep my part of the contract——" Her voice failedher as she met his grilling eyes

"Are you fulfilling your——"

"What, Uncle Nick, tea-broken?" interrupted a voice from the door The old manstruggled to his feet as his nephew came toward him A smile of tendernessdimmed the glitter of his eyes Jerry's heart looped the loop How long had Stevebeen at the door? Had he heard that last rebellious declaration of hers? How

would he greet his uncle? She hoped that he would be tender, for no matter howdisagreeable Nicholas Fairfax was, he was old and evidently dangerously ill Shewas quite unconscious of her breath of relief as the younger man laid anaffectionate arm about the elder's shoulders.

"This sure is a surprise and then some, Uncle Nick Why didn't you let us knowyou were coming?"

"I knew if I wrote, your father'd invent an excuse to put me off, so I roped DocRand and came along I have no time to waste I wanted to see the kind of girlthey'd sold you to——"

"Then you have seen a fine one who did me the honor to marry me, haven'tyou?" There was a set to young Courtlandt's jaw which boded ill for the personwho differed with him "Why not come up to your room and rest before dinner?Sir Peter returns to-night and you'll want—here he is now," as the hum of voices

Fairfax swallowed the bait which never failed to lure him His western

possessions were his pride, and he welcomed an opportunity to talk of themmuch as a fond parent does of his child.

"Didn't want to leave Felt it my duty to come and see what you had done toSteve," he growled "Greyson, of the X Y Z, is looking after things for me."

"Greyson of the X Y Z! Is your ranch near his?" Jerry demanded A faint colorstole to her face, her eyes were alight with interest

"It is What do you know about it?" Fairfax's eyes were interrogation points ofsuspicion

"Not much I met Mr Greyson last winter, and I——"

"Met Greyson, did you? Humph! So that's what's the matter with him I supposethe daughter of an oil-king looked down upon——"

"Have you had a profitable year?" interrupted Peter Courtlandt, adroitly gettingbetween his son and the old man "They tell me that this has been a bannerseason for wheat."

"They told you right If the cattle winter safe I shall achieve the ambition of mylife, to own the biggest and finest herd of Shorthorns in the country I'll show 'em

a thing or two about that breed of cattle I tell you, Peter——"

"Mrs Denbigh," announced Judson at the door

Jerry caught the look of consternation which Peter Courtlandt threw at his son.She saw also the sudden tightening of Steve's lips What did it mean? She hadmet Felice Denbigh once and had been repulsed by her super-golden hair andsuper-perfect complexion Was she an old sweetheart of Steve's? She took a steptoward the smartly gowned woman who spoke as she crossed the threshold

"Mrs Courtlandt, you will forgive me for this intrusion on your honeymoon,won't you? But—but Steve left his gloves in my sedan this morning when wedrove to town, and I came to return them."

Jerry's mind took a dizzy turn or two then settled down to clear thinking She had

a curious sense that with the explanation Felice Denbigh had fired the openinggun of a campaign So there had been a reason why Steve had refused to allowher to drive him to town She flashed a glance at him even while she murmuredwelcoming platitudes to her guest He had his hand on his uncle's arm

"What's that? Felice Peyton, the girl you were forever running after when youwere in college? Well, Miss Peyton, you lost him, didn't you?" asked the terribleold man

"But—but dear Mr Fairfax, I'm not Miss Peyton now—I married Phil Denbighwhen Steve deserted me and went to war I——"

"Philip Denbigh!" The old man rose, straightened himself like an avengingNemesis "Poor devil! So he drew another blank besides that good-for-nothingphilandering mother of his A mother who wept and begged until she kept theboy from enlisting, and by some hokuspokus got him into Class C.—No, I won'tstop," as Courtlandt senior laid a peremptory hand on his arm "There are a lot ofmen who are cringing through life to-day because their women did not love themenough to cheer them on to fight in the Great Fight."

Felice Denbigh was white with anger, her eyes tiny green flames Jerry flungherself into the breach:

"Won't you stay and dine with us informally, Mrs Denbigh? Poor S-Steve musthave been bored to death, surfeited with my society this last month."

"Thank you, no." Felice's self-possession was superb "I shall pay my respects tothe new Mrs Courtlandt later when she is formally at home Good-night, Mr.Fairfax What a pleasure it must be for the family to have your genial presence atthe Manor You don't know how happy it makes me to find that someoneremembers Steve's devotion to me He seems to have forgotten it Good-night,Sir Peter Stevie, will you come and start that cranky car of mine?" Then, as hereached her side, Jerry heard her ask softly, "Shall we meet at the same place to-morrow morning?"

Nicholas Fairfax must have heard it also, for the girl heard him mutter:

"Snake!"

As she served coffee in the library after dinner Jerry pondered over those spoken words The firelight set the sequins on her pale blue gown glittering likejewels; it accentuated the satiny sheen of her hair, betrayed the troubledexpression in her lovely eyes Nicholas Fairfax was in his room He hadcollapsed when he went up to dress for dinner Doctor Rand, whom he hadbrought with him, stood back to the fire stirring his coffee There was asuggestion of fat and wheeze about the little man His weather-stained face hadthe wrinkled effect of a quite elderly, quite plump russet apple His white hairbushed à la Golliwog His frock coat was of finest, pre-war broadcloth Theflamboyant effect of his black necktie made the girl think of the bow on the neck

low-of a pet kitten He tested his coffee before he observed dryly:

"If a man with an under-developed heart-beat and an over-developed pressure will go chasing half-way across the continent to see a pretty girl," hebowed with somewhat ponderous gallantry in Jerry's direction, "what can youexpect but collapse? He's crazy about you, Steve, and somewhere he got the foolnotion that you were unhappy That's what started him East I tried to hold himback I knew the price he'd pay."

blood-Stephen Courtlandt came suddenly from the window where he had been lookingout upon the snow-dusted world He approached the fire His eyes lookedstrained

"And sent for your family lawyer Your father is with him now I'll go and relievehim Your cookie sure makes good coffee, Mrs Jerry Bring her out to the

"Mrs Courtlandt would starve for people in that wilderness, Doc," announcedStephen with parrot-like glibness

"Would she now? Sure, she doesn't look like a child who'd be so dependent onchatter Well, the Double O isn't in the Dude ranch region, neither is it exactly awilderness It's a seething cauldron of society in comparison to some of theplaces You knew that Old Nick and Greyson had given the Bear Creek ranch to

a returned service man, didn't you, Steve?" then as Courtlandt nodded, "Hebrought a wife out last spring She doesn't have a woman to speak to but shereminds me of a meadow-lark, little and quiet but with a voice that sings."

"Do she and her husband live there all alone?" Jerry asked in wonder

"Yes—that is—there's a range-rider but—but that's another story." Had she notthought it quite out of character Jerry would have sworn that Doc Rand wasembarrassed "We—here I am talking when my patient needs me It's all yourfault, Mrs Jerry You shouldn't have vamped me so outrageously Steve, I want aprescription filled."

"I'll send Carter for it, Doc Give it to me." He left the room with the slip ofpaper in his hand Rand looked after him, then thoughtfully at the girl where shesat in the flickering light of the fire He set his cup on the tray and patted herhand gently

so like Steve's, were thoughtful, there was a suspicion of laughter in the curve ofthe lips, the flesh tints were marvelously lovely, a string of rare pearls gleamedsoftly on the creamy neck The artist had worked lovingly and had produced aportrait that was humanly, warmly alive, a spirit that dominated the quiet room

"Steve,—Steve and Sir Peter love her like that too, do they not?"

"Love her! It is more than love Betty Fairfax, the name clung even aftermarriage, makes me believe in immortality The best of her is living in Steve and

it will be handed on to his children Her spirit is just as much alive for herhusband and son as it was the day she left them That's why Steve has keptstraight through temptations which would have lured most chaps of his age Noone can ever tell me, and get across with it, that a mother's influence doesn't liveforever That boy is one of a thousand, isn't he, Mrs Jerry?"

"Oh—perhaps, as thousands go." She looked up from under her long lashes athis discomfited face Laughter gleamed through the tears which his tribute to themother had brought "You shouldn't pry into the secrets of a maiden's heart," sheteased with exaggerated demureness Rand responded to her mood

"That's better A child like you should laugh, not be as serious as you've beenever since I've seen you Don't let Nick's condition depress you He may live forweeks and when he does go, it will be a release He wants it—if—if he can goknowing that Steve's happiness is assured."

"Is anyone's happiness assured?" asked the girl gravely

"No"—he regarded her with his twinkling gray eyes—"but I'll bet my broncho ifanyone's is—it's Steve's Good-night."

He was gone before Jerry could reply Her heart felt curiously warmed by hiswords He—he evidently liked her if Steve didn't She went to the piano Herfingers touched the keys experimentally for a moment, then she quiteunconsciously struck the opening bar of "Papillions." The music danced and rosewith dainty spontaneity She drifted into Bach's "Praeludium." Separated chords

or flowing melody, she played with a sympathy and sureness which showed thetouch of an artist She knew when Steve came into the room and crossed to thewindow As the last note died away she turned He stood with his hands clenchedbehind his back What was interesting him outside, she wondered She wanted tospeak to him but she never yet had addressed him by his first name It seemedabsurd, it was absurd, but she had avoided using it to his face To continue theavoidance presented difficulties now that his back was turned She usuallywaited until he looked at her, which she had to acknowledge was seldom Sheran through the opening bars of "Papillions" again but his back remainedobdurately turned to the room

"Good Lord, don't you know my name that you have to juggle 'I—you——'when you want to attract my attention?" he demanded belligerently There was adefiant gleam in the eyes which met his

"It does sound silly, doesn't it—Stevie?" with exaggerated demureness and anexact imitation of Felice Denbigh's voice "But—but I know yours better thanyou know mine—I think——" then as he opened his lips to speak she hurried

on, "I wanted to ask if you were in love with Felice Denbigh? No—no—don'tmistake me," as his blue eyes darkened to purple-black, and his lips tightened,

"I'm not jealous—really I'm not—I only wanted you to know that if you are, I'msorry, terribly sorry It's a tragedy to love one person and have to marry another."

"How do you know? Are you in love with Greyson?" with rough directness.His sudden turn of the tables took the girl's breath She colored betrayingly Sheknew that she must be the picture of guilt as she stood there, her color comingand going, her heart beating like a silly tom-tom There was even a slightunsteadiness in her voice as she evaded:

"She—she was not much like your mother, was she?"

"Like Mother?" Jerry thought she had never heard anything so beautiful as thatword "Mother" as Courtlandt uttered it He smiled up at the portrait—"Motherwas—well——" he cleared the huskiness from his voice and went on, "As I wassaying about Denbigh, remorse got too much for him and a year ago hedisappeared, dropped completely out of sight."

"Why didn't Felice go with him?"

"Do you know, I fancy that Phil didn't want her."

"Nevertheless she had married him One doesn't take the vow 'and forsaking allothers' to break it, does one?" gravely

"I deduce from that that you do not believe in divorce?"

"Divorce! While I acknowledge that there may be situations where it isunavoidable, I hate the word Always to me it takes on the semblance ofMedusa's head in my school mythology, its snaky, hissing locks striking,stabbing, stinging, scarring indelibly I believe in keeping covenants."

at least four generations of ancestors who have, in spite of disappointment anddisillusion, poverty or riches, sickness or health, kept their marriage covenants.

A curious idea, isn't it? It just came to me 'A little thing but mine own,'" her tonechanged from earnestness to flippancy on the last words She syncopated a fewbars of "Papillions" as though to emphasize her indifference

Courtlandt thrust his hands hard into the pockets of his dinner coat Theatmosphere tingled with electricity The girl wondered if he were throttling adesire to shake her She hoped so He met her eyes steadily for a moment before

he turned to leave the room Jerry took a hasty step after him

"Wait, please—if—if——" as he kept on she added desperately, "Steve, please."

He stopped and turned "If—if you should see Dad—do not mention the fact thatBruce—that Mr Greyson's ranch is near your uncle's."

"Why not?" relentlessly

"Because in an attack of homesickness last winter I became engaged to him."

In the music-room of the Manor the rugs had been rolled back, the voice of thephonograph released from captivity and the Courtlandts' guests were dancing, atleast some of them were Sir Peter had beguiled Glamorgan to the library for asmoke The oil-king had cast a gloom over the dinner Was it because he wasdisturbed about Nicholas Fairfax, Jerry wondered To the amazement of all, heand the ranchman had become great friends It would be like her father to beirritable if he were moved Perhaps it had been the arrival of Greyson which hadinfuriated him Last winter he had quickly made her see the folly of herengagement to the owner of the X Y Z, and now she was grateful to him Shehad known at the time that she did not love Bruce Greyson, but that she was inlove with love In a way her life had been a lonely one, and when he had pleadedwith her to marry him, she had agreed to a tentative engagement Now she wasglad that she had kept him at a distance, even in those two weeks

She looked up at Greyson as he sat beside her in one of the deep embrasures of awindow A distinguished looking man, he gave the impression of having lived ingreat spaces, of having achieved worth-while things, of being absolutely poisedand self-assured His dark hair was tending toward neutral at the temples, hiskeen blue eyes had fine lines radiating from them, which denoted long-distancegazing The weather-beaten texture of his skin was emphasized by theimmaculate white of the shirt and collar of his up-to-the-minute dinner clothes.Peggy Glamorgan, as she danced with her brother-in-law, was doing direfulthings to the heart of young Don Curtis, whose family estate adjoined the Manor.She was a charming, younger model of her sister, except that where Jerry's eyeswere brown, Peggy's were a somewhat elfish hazel She was making the most of

a week-end freedom from school discipline Steve Courtlandt's glance wandered

to the two in the deep window Peggy looked up at him with tormenting concern

"That's the second time you've lost step, Steve I protest I hate being troddenon." Her laughing eyes and mischievously curved lips robbed the words of theirsting

"I'm sorry! Give me one more trial, Peg-o'-my-heart, and I'll do better," promisedSteve He had taken an immense liking to the girl, she was so genuine, so

"Nothing doing, brother Go get Jerry It's a part of her job to put up with yourpoor dancing, isn't it? A part of the love, honor and obey stuff? Catch me saying'I will' to that Jerry's different She'd walk over the proverbial ploughshares ifshe thought duty called." She looked across the room to where her sister sat andadded softly, "It's a queer trick of fortune that Bruce Greyson should be youruncle's confidential man and should come to this house."

"Why accent this?" demanded Steve Courtlandt bluntly

Peggy flushed guiltily beneath his stern eyes

"That's only my exclamatory style I meant that it was strange that Jerry shouldmeet him here after—after—I—I wonder if that was what made her cry lastnight?"

"Did Jerry cry last night?"

"She cross-my-throat-and-hope-to-die swore she didn't, this morning, but her lidswere suspiciously pink Didn't you notice it? Thank you, I should love it," sheresponded to young Curtis who had been impatiently hovering in the offing

"There really isn't much fun dancing with old married men," she confided in atone intended to reach Steve She made an impudent little face at her brother-in-law over her partner's shoulder He smiled and blew her a kiss as she dancedaway but her words hurt, hurt because he knew that she was right He felt yearsolder than he had that epoch-making October night when his father had revealed

to him the state of the family finances, and had presented the means whereby itcould be remedied Had he chosen wisely, he wondered; wouldn't it have beenbetter to let the property go than to have married a girl who had so quicklyacquired an aversion for him?

He looked across at the two engrossed faces in the window He'd break that up.Jerry should remember where she was and not give occasion for silly gossip.Already Felice Denbigh, who had motored out from town for dinner, had calledhis attention to Greyson's apparent devotion With eyes combative, Steve strolled

Steve," he apologized, "but the temptation to live over a perfect friendship wastoo great to be resisted I will beg a dance from your sister, Mrs Courtlandt."Jerry's eyes followed him as he crossed the room They made Steve think ofdeep, troubled pools when she looked up at him Was it because Peg had put theidea into his head or did they look as though they had known recent tears? Wasshe finding her marriage a bar to happiness already? His face was a trifle white,

a trifle grim as he reminded:

"Do we dance?"

Without answering she rose, and he put his arm about her Except for taking herhand it was the first time he had touched her How slender she was, how soft,how graceful He could feel her heart pound heavily against his breast Onemight think that she was frightened, but with him—that was absurd Her dancinglike her walk was perfection of motion He was careful of his steps as theydanced down the long room Jerry should have no occasion to echo Peg'sreprimand She stopped

"Tired?" he asked solicitously, his senses still throbbing from the appeal ofmusic and dance She shook her head

"Tired! I don't know what it is to be tired Some of our guests are not dancing.Mrs Denbigh is quite alone and looking horribly bored Peg seems to haveappropriated more than her share of men; she is surrounded Don't you think that

"Has Mr Greyson gone up?" he asked hurriedly and when Judson answered inthe affirmative he turned to Jerry:

"I must go to Uncle Nick I may not be down again."

"Is he——" but he was mounting the stairs two steps at a time before Jerry hadfinished the sentence With a feeling of foreboding she entered the library Theguests were grouped around the fire with Judson and a maid serving supper Shestopped in the shadow of the doorway Up-stairs the spirit of an old, weary manwas passing, here—the room and its furnishings made a rich background for theshimmering satin of dainty gowns; the firelight played mad pranks with jewels atwhite throats and on pink fingers, with the glittering buckles on silver slippers;bright eyes were laughing into eyes that pleaded or compelled, young voiceswere teasing, challenging

Jerry's breath came unevenly She had cried last night It was a rare indulgencefor her She could not tell now why How could Steve have known? She hopedthat none of these chattering boys and girls suspected it She looked about theroom How she loved it! It stood for all the background she had acquired by hermarriage She loved the old seventeenth century Courtlandt, she held long, one-sided conversations with him when she was sure that she was quite alone He

had given her to understand that a marriage de convenance quite met with his

approval, that in his day girls married to please their parents She wasn't so sure

of the judgment of Steve's mother Her eyes, so like her son's, looked down with

a grave question in their depths when she appealed to her

The group around the fire made room as they welcomed her with gay reproof fortardiness Felice Denbigh inquired impatiently for Steve Jerry made hisapologies and explained his absence The voices of the guests became hushed.One by one they left, almost tiptoeing through the hall Peggy snuggled up to hersister when the two were alone

"Has—has Uncle N-Nick—gone?" she whispered Then as Jerry shook her head,

"If—if he does will you come and sleep with me?"

"I will, dear, but there is nothing to frighten you Why should there be in thepassing of an old man's spirit?"